Health Tip of the Week, sponsored by Baton Rouge General: Gut bacteria in childhood may lead to early colon cancer

Researchers have identified a strong link between a DNA-damaging toxin and colon cancer in younger people. Exposure to the toxin, called colibactin, in early childhood or adolescence may lay the groundwork for colorectal cancer decades later. How does this toxin come into play? It’s produced by certain strains of E.coli and other bacteria, whose growth is influenced by—you guessed it—diet, inflammation and even some medications. This type of research points to new opportunities for prevention, like screening younger adults for these high-risk bacterial strains using stool tests, as well as continued evidence that diets high in fiber and low in processed foods are the friendliest to the gut microbiome. Learn more about colon cancer.